While I’ve had my nose to the grindstone, we’ve had some interesting things happening in the grove around us. I learned a few years ago that robins apparently stay in this area year round, but you couldn’t prove it by me. I’d never seen a robin in the winter until this year, and I saw and entire FLOCK of them at the beginning of March! I was in the great room, looking out the windows to where the sump pump discharges into a small pool. I shouted at Dear Husband, “There’s a robin…..wait, two, three, FOUR…FIVE…!!! There were more than five, taking turns getting a drink and bathing in the water! I was astonished, and so very pleased to have seen them. Apparently, our weather prior to the last two weeks or so was mild enough to bring them back to us.
Then the weather closed in. We had heavy wet snow one day, and I was amazed to see sixteen male cardinals and their ladies waiting for their turns at the feeder. I was able to get a small portion of them in a picture from the kitchen window.
I noticed that the red-wing blackbirds have returned. They play relatively nicely with our winter birds below the feeders, but their relatives, the blackbirds and starlings, will be back soon, and then it will be a free for all!
This morning, as I got ready to send my sister on her way to the last day of her conference, we heard a cardinal sing: birdie, birdie, birdie, BIR-DIE!!! One of the best things about living here has been all the birds that keep us company. *S*
Were it not for your photo, I would not believe that you could have had 16 male cardinals, all at the same time. *smiling* Marvelous! We are doing well to see two males at a time!
When you posted that picture on FB, I would have sworn you photshopped it those males are so bright!
CC, it was heavenly to look out the window and see them all gathered. I feel blessed to see them every year.
Bogie, I used a Sony Cyber-shot 10.1 digital camera, from inside the house. If I had been able to open the window, the birds would have been even brighter. I do not know how to photo shop, so this is pretty much what I was seeing.
We have one male cardinal which is an odd brighter, lighter orangy red. When I first saw him, I thought the others might drive him off, but they don’t seem to object to his mutation. He’s been a part of the community for several years now.
Undoubtedly, you’ve already thought of this and ruled it out. If no, and just on the off-chance that the bird you say is orangy might not be a cardinal, please check the color of its bill – or – look up pyrrhuloxia on the web/in your bird books. OTOH: Perhaps you are seeing a sub-adult cardinal?
Okay, I looked up pyrrhuloxia and it’s not even close to what we are seeing. We are pretty sure this is a cardinal that simply has a modified color. He has been with us for a number of years, and is accepted by the other cardinals as part of the flock. He has all the traditional things we look for in cardinals, the beak, the crest, the black, the body shape. He’s just a bird of a different color. IF I can get a picture of him, I’ll post it.
Darn! Here I am trying to get you a rarity and you simply refuse to cooperate. Color variations happen and you obviously have been observing one. Good for you!